UNI's Communicative Disorders program places 100 percent of students

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The Communicative Disorders program at the University of Northern Iowa has a student job placement rate of 100 percent, according to department head Clifford Highnam. The program, begun in the 1950s, has consistently had high placement ratings, but in the last two years it has achieved 100 percent placement.

The program is currently ranked in the nation's top 10 speech-language pathology graduate programs among universities offering a master's degree, according to "U.S. News and World Report."

"Our students have a reputation in the field for being very well-prepared," Highnam said. "I get calls on a regular basis from employment agencies seeking out our students."

UNI offers both an undergraduate and a graduate communicative disorders program; to be employed in the speech-language pathology field students must have a master's degree. Approximately 80 percent of undergraduate students continue into the graduate program at UNI. Highnam expects the numbers to remain elevated, due to the high need in the field.

"From 2000 to 2008, we expect a 39 percent growth in the speech and language pathology job market," Highnam explained. "This is mostly due to our aging population and the associated hearing loss. We also have improving systems of identification for communication disabilities among all age groups."

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11/18/02

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Mark Grey, professor of anthropology and director of the New Iowans program, (319) 273-3029

Gwenne Culpepper, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761

UNI's New Iowans program offers assistance to employers and churches

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's New Iowans program today unveiled two new books designed to help Iowans work with immigrant and refugee populations. Two years ago, the program published "Welcoming New Iowans," a general guide for communities experiencing an influx of immigrants and refugees. The new books are designed specifically for employers and Christian churches.

"The bottom line is that, for several decades, most rural Iowa communities were homogenous -- they were English-speaking and white," said Mark Grey, director of the New Iowans program. "Now you have newcomers who often are not white and who bring new languages and new lifestyles. In many cases, the newcomers have come not in trickles, but in rather large influxes. And there you have the recipe for a number of challenges."

Grey said the state's meat packing industry is a big draw for immigrants and refugees. "Of course, they may come for those specific jobs but they slowly and surely filter out to other kinds of employment. This is important as it demonstrates how our economy is increasingly dependent on them."

Immigration, says Grey, is a workforce and economic development issue. "A lot of us have looked at demographic trends and we are concerned. Birth rates are down, and the workforce is aging rapidly. And then there's the painful reminder that 40 percent of the state's college graduates leave the state. We believe that immigrants can make up for part of the shortfall."

"Welcoming New Iowans: A Guide for Christians and Churches," was co-authored by Anne C. Woodrick, associate professor of anthropology at UNI; and Grey. Grey is the sole author of "Welcoming New Iowans: A Guide for Manager and Supervisors."

All of the books can be downloaded at www.bcs.uni.edu/idm/newiowans/. For more information, contact Mark Grey, director of the New Iowans program, (319) 273-6496.

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11/18/02

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Clifford Highnam, head, Department of Communicative Disorders, (319) 273-2576

Melissa Barber, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761

UNI's aphasia clinic helps post-stroke recovery

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- As Iowa's population ages, more and more residents are at risk for strokes. According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 750,000 people have strokes in the United States each year, with the incidence rate increasing dramatically with age. Many stroke victims suffer from some type of aphasia, a speech and language disorder that results in difficulty talking and comprehending spoken language.

The University of Northern Iowa's Communicative Disorders department offers therapy and support for those with aphasia. Student clinicians, supervised by faculty members in the Roy Eblen Speech and Hearing Clinic, provide therapy to improve patients' oral and written expression. Memory and problem-solving skills also are addressed. An aphasia therapy group meets once a week to provide communication therapy, social support and family counseling. The clinic serves a wide range of ages, and is open to the public.

For more information on the Roy Eblen Speech and Hearing Clinic or aphasia, call (319) 273-2576.

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11/18 /02

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Richard Colburn, UNI professor of art and chair, Meryl Norton Hearst Lecture Series, (319) 273-2036.

Vicki Grimes, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761

Noted Photographer Shelby Lee Adams to be visiting artist in UNI Department of Art Nov. 25-26, as part of Meryl Norton Hearst Lecture Series

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Noted Photographer Shelby Lee Adams will be a visiting artist in the Department of Art at the University of Northern Iowa Nov. 25 and 26, as part of the Meryl Norton Hearst Lecture Series.

Adams will present a lecture on his work at 7:30 p.m., Monday Nov. 25, in the Kamerick Art Building Auditorium, Room 111. The lecture is free and open to the public. He will meet with students to discuss his work and conduct individual portfolio reviews on Tuesday, Nov. 26.

His work has centered around portraits made in Appalachia. Two books of his photographs have been published by the University of Mississippi Press-- Appalachian Portraits" (1993) and "Appalachian Legacy" (1998). A book of recent work will be published in March of 2003. His work has been exhibited internationally and is held in major collections throughout the world.

For more information, contact the UNI Department of Art, (319) 273-2077.

The Meryl Norton Hearst Lecture Series is supported by an endowment from James Schell Hearst, author, poet and professor of creative writing at UNI from 1941 until his retirement in 1975.

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